Gary, IN – Firefighters in Gary faced one of the most intense challenges of the year early Monday morning, battling a massive commercial fire at Collins Pallet Co., 1584 Blaine Street, that reignited just hours after being brought under control.
According to the Gary Fire Department, the first call came in at 2:32 a.m. when crews arrived to find the warehouse and surrounding pallets fully engulfed. Firefighters worked for several hours in 90-degree heat and high humidity to bring the flames under control, clearing the scene shortly before sunrise. At 7 a.m., emergency crews were dispatched to the same location after flying embers from the first blaze allegedly ignited new fires on the property.
Multiple neighboring departments, including those from Portage, Cedar Lake, Schererville, Crown Point, Hammond, Lake Ridge, Hebron, Griffith, Dyer, Highland, East Chicago, and Liberty Union, responded to assist. Fire officials said their combined efforts prevented the flames from spreading further despite dangerous conditions.
The department noted that this fire illustrates why crews do not simply “let it burn.” Investigators said embers can allegedly travel hundreds of feet in hot, dry conditions, igniting other structures or property regardless of the building’s condition.
Officials have not released a damage estimate or determined the exact cause of the initial fire, though the second blaze is believed to have been sparked by embers from the first incident. No injuries were reported.
The Gary Fire Department publicly thanked all responding agencies for their commitment, saying the crews’ perseverance in extreme heat demonstrated the grit and dedication required in the job.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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